Man in Prince George's dies after Taser jolt

CRIME WATCH

May 29, 2007|By JEFF FRITZE

An man died Saturday after police in Prince George's County used a Taser to subdue him, police officials said yesterday.

Seat Pleasant and Fairmount Heights police were called to the 6800 block of Greig St. east of Fairmount Heights about 3:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a fight between a man and a woman. Prince George's County police were called to help transport the man, said spokeswoman Cpl. Debbie Carlson.

When the man became combative, police used a Taser to subdue him and he died at Prince George's County Hospital Center in Cheverly about an hour later, Carlson said. Police did not release the man's name yesterday because they were still attempting to notify his family.

Carlson said police are investigating which officer used the Taser. A Prince George's County police officer has been placed on routine administration leave, she said.

Police are waiting for a ruling from the medical examiner on the cause of the man's death.

The Taser, which can deliver a 50,000-volt shock, is supposed to be a nonlethal alternative to guns.

In the past month, two people have died in Baltimore City shortly after police shocked them with a Taser, and a third person died in Baltimore County in March.